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Health & Fitness

Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project to feed 700 families


Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year.

In addition to enjoying feast and family, I am proud to participate in the Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project through my involvement in Middletown Rotary, my work, and my church.

The Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project was established three years ago to ensure that all Middletown families who couldn’t afford to purchase a Thanksgiving meal could still enjoy a feast on Thanksgiving. Made up of volunteers from nonprofit organizations, businesses, faith communities, and civic groups — and funded in large part by the Middletown Rotary — the Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project will assemble baskets of food for 700 families this Thanksgiving.

Registration for Thanksgiving baskets will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. Amazing Grace Food Pantry, 16 Stack Street, starting Oct. 28 through Nov. 22. Those who wish to register must provide proof of Middletown residence and identification for each family member. Acceptable proofs of residence are utility bill, driver’s license or state identification, lease agreement or rental receipts. Acceptable forms of identification are driver’s license, birth certificate, medial card, or DSS or housing listing. No social security cards will be accepted. Baskets will be available for pickup Tuesday, Nov. 26 between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Fellowship Church, 1002 Saybrook Road.

Donations are being accepted to purchase necessary food and non-food items essential to this effort. If you wish to contribute, checks can be made out to “Rotary-MCTP” and sent to MCTP, c/o Fellowship Church, 1002 Saybrook Rd., Middletown, CT 06457. For more information about volunteering or contributing a donation, please contact Lara SantaMaria at Fellowship Church at 860-346-1181 or MCTP2013@yahoo.com.

We will also be holding two Fill-a-Bus events to collect nonperishable food items. You can find us at Stop & Shop in Middletown Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at Price Chopper in Middletown Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. We will have a list with us of needed items. Just look for the bus.

Partners in the Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project include Community Renewal Team, Cross Street AME Zion Church, Fellowship Church, Heritage Commons, Liberty Bank Foundation, Middlesex County Community Foundation, Middlesex United Way, the Middletown Interfaith Community, Middletown Kiwanis Club, Middletown Police Department, Middletown Public Schools, Middletown Rotary Club, St. John Roman Catholic Church, St. Luke’s Eldercare Services, St. Vincent De Paul Middletown/Amazing Grace Food Pantry, The Salvation Army, and Wesleyan University.

It’s incredible what we can do when we all work together. I know what I am thankful for this year. A community that truly cares.

LIVE UNITED.

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